BY SAM ADUROGBOYE
Let me start this conversation by referring to the statement attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, one of the most iconic leaders who ever lived.
Although this is by no means an attempt at comparison, Gandhi’s timeless lyrics and calm, peaceful approach to tackling some of the world’s most intractable problems fit perfectly into the style of the Captain Musa Shuaibu Nuhu, Managing Director and Chief Executive, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
A quiet revolution is underway in the civil aviation sector in Nigeria, and it has the unmistakable fingerprints of the team player and a quintessential leader, Captain Nuhu. Great things are happening but they are happening slowly, almost silently.
Which is quite correct because the regulatory side of aviation is a rather conservative and reserved activity; it thrives best where there is no noise.
In fact, it’s safe to say that Gandhi might as well have been referring to Captain Nuhu. Shortly after Captain Nuhu assumed office on March 16, 2020, the world was hit with COVID -19, which caused a total global lockdown. But that was to bring out the best in him; the deadly pandemic sparked his innate leadership qualities.
He sprang into action and the NCAA became the first Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to invent COVID-19 health protocols and other guidance documents ahead of all other CAAs, including the world aviation arbiter, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The protocols were presented in the form of precise and carefully considered circulars. Among them: “Targeted Exemption from Certain Regulatory Requirements Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Flight Crew Competencies”; Exemptions from certain regulatory requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic: recent flight crew experience and competence; Approved Training Organization (ATO) restart plan after COVID-19 lockdown; Revised Interim Quarantine Protocol for Travelers Arriving or Leaving Nigeria; Exemption documents, etc.
This ultimately earned the Chief Executive and the NCAA global praise and awards, including from the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC).
Many awards from other reputable organizations also followed.
The NCAA was able to accomplish all of this at a time when some organizations, private and public, were downsizing, while others were placing their employees on half pay. The NCAA paid its employees in full and on time throughout the lockdown due to the frugality and cost savings of its predecessor.
Captain Nuhu is also renowned for his fair stewardship of the Authority’s scarce resources during his time on watch. It is common knowledge that under his leadership, the NCAA provided the necessary leadership and rallying point for industry stakeholders during the lockdown period.
He did this by hosting a series of virtual meetings to gather thoughts, opinions and ideas on what was being done, what needed to be done and the way forward. No one has been left out. Everyone’s opinions mattered. Stakeholders who attended these meetings applauded him for his ability to listen to a wide range of opinions and suggestions, but also for his firmness, especially on security issues.
All these activities were supported by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika. He personally attended some of the meetings, made key contributions and also offered policy guidance during this very difficult time for the industry.
Restarting the industry post-lockdown became an easy task for stakeholders as they were all on the same page.
Nigeria is a Tier 1 nation, which means we are part of what a former chief executive called ‘the Premier League of nations’, with a strong safety record. It’s no small task that this has been maintained over the years at a time when others are losing theirs.
But a number of factors combined to work in the NCAA’s favor.
First, God had complete control. What followed was hard work, training and retraining of staff. There is also the recruitment of qualified, competent and experienced hands in our inspection divisions, which constitute the common thread of any aviation regulatory body.
The quest to attract and retain qualified personnel in sufficient numbers has prompted the General Manager to make every effort to seek enhanced and competitive salary packages for deserving NCAA personnel from approving authorities.
In the meantime, he oversaw the relocation of the NCAA headquarters from Lagos to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. This has been made possible through the completion of the new office complex at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The new arrangement means that Aviation House is now the regional office in Lagos.
Captain Nuhu believes that the regional offices are an integral and crucial part of the Authority.
Recently, during a meeting with workers, he unveiled his team’s plans to strengthen regional offices in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Abuja for effective surveillance coverage of the entire country.
All of these achievements, which he has always attributed to teamwork, are beginning to be recognized around the world. On one occasion, a media outlet captioned it, “Nuhu in Reaping Rewards.” It is therefore the reaping of rewards.
Now, the Chief Executive has brought the NCAA back to the World Aviation Center stage by hosting the 7th African Indian Ocean (AFI) Regional Meeting held in Abuja from May 16-20, 2022.
It was a gathering of industry titans, including the Secretary General of ICAO; directors general of civil aviation authorities of African countries, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Association of African Aviation Training Organizations (AATO), airlines, the Bureau of Accident Investigation (AIB), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Nigerian College of Aeronautical Technology ( NCAT), aviation journalists and other allied technical personnel.
The meeting was declared open by Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation, on Monday, May 16, 2022. Captain Nuhu warmly welcomed the guests, while Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Authority ( ICAO), delivered a strong message of goodwill.
The meeting immediately broke into technical sessions closed to the public.
During the discussions, the reports of various committees and groups were considered, considered and a final result came out on Friday this week, and it was adopted.
This end result aims to chart a new course for the improvement of air navigation safety on the African continent and in the world as a whole.
All in all, it’s safe to say the NCAA is up to snuff, and Captain Nuhu is making it better.
Samuel Adurogboye, a long-time media, communication and management professional, with a Masters in Communication Arts from the University of Ibadan, is the Acting Director General of the Public Relations Department of the Nigerian Authority of Civil Aviation (NCAA). He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).
